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What to Look for When Booking Your Accommodation
My work as a travel writer and photographer has led me to collaborate with some of the world’s leading hotel brands. But beyond the big names, I’ve checked into places you wouldn’t usually find in a magazine, where hospitality isn’t measured by thread counts or star ratings, but by a sense of place and culture. Many people visiting Japan for the first time (or anywhere in the world) often book hotels based on surface-level factors, such as price or Instagram aesthetics, but just beyond these are unique hotels that can become, sometimes, more memorable than the journey itself. Here’s what to look for when booking your accommodation in Japan and why you should look beyond what you think you know about hotels.
1. More Remote, More Rewarding
The best hotel stays often come from getting off the beaten path and Japan has a whole range of beautiful remote stays that fit the bill. In scenic Toyama lies Rakudo-An, set in the beautiful and remote Tonami Plain, which is a hotel consisting of just three rooms inside a century-old farmhouse. Inside the Azumadachi farmhouse, traditional silks and wood take centre stage, reflective of the talented craftspeople who live nearby.
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2. Eco-Conscious Travel is No Longer a Niche
Sustainability is much more than just a trend; it’s the future of hospitality and both visitors and properties should be prioritising it. On Awaji Island, Zenbo Seinei is just one example of how Japanese hotels do sustainability right. The hotel is centred around a long wooden platform that melts into the surrounding forest, while Hida furniture, draws on the art of traditional Japanese crafts and furniture making. Stay for dinner and you’ll find a menu using local, seasonal ingredients and no animal products, strengthening their sustainability further.
3. Slowing Down: The Hotel as a Destination
The best hotels are a destination in themselves, encouraging you to slow down and providing surroundings, aesthetics or activities that fill your time. This can most often be found in Japan’s beautiful ryokans - one of my favourites is Hoshino Resorts Kai Poroto on the banks of Lake Poroto where exceptional design makes it somewhere you would travel simply to experience it. It features stunning bathhouses inspired by ancient Ainu villages, while rooms take in the surroundings through floor-to-ceiling windows, offering perfect landscape views when the colours of autumn come out.
4. Food as the Heart of a Stay
For travellers who have explored surface level Japan, taking things deeper by diving into its culture and gastronomy will enrich any return trip. At Banyan Tree Higashiyama in Kyoto, every bite is a culinary journey. Expect authentic dishes that use local, seasonal ingredients. Guests are part of the cooking process with a Japanese kaiseki menu where the chef prepares dishes at your tableside grill, while even the hotel bar, Bar Ryozen, offers the chance to taste sake while listening to the history of the rice used to craft it.
Related Post: What Type of Accommodation Should You Book in Japan?
5. The Magic of Family-Run Stays
Five-star hospitality is great, but there’s nothing quite like the homeliness of a family-run stay. In Fukuoka, Tachibana Ohana combines grandeur, luxury and local heritage in just 20 rooms designed with traditional Japanese aesthetics. Everything immerses you in the history of the surrounding area and the hotel feels like a still-standing extension of olden-day Japan, with authentic interiors and locally sourced delicacies served in their restaurant. The warmth of staff and locals here feels genuine, which is all part of the magic of opting for local stays.
6. Aim Small: The Charm of Boutique Hotels
Personalised service, thoughtful design and a sense of place shine through in boutique hotels like Azumi Setoda, a heritage family estate near Hiroshima. The beautifully designed hotel is one of Japan’s most unique ryokans, mixing sleek contemporary interiors with traditional flair and materials. Everything is highly personalised and led by local knowledge, from the dining, which uses vegetables from Setoda and other areas in the Setouchi region, to the experiences, which range from learning about Fukuyama denim to a lemon harvest tour.
7. Price Doesn’t Always Equal Experience
An expensive price tag won’t always get you the best experience. Take Hostel Saruya in Fujiyoshida as a prime example: it’s in an unmatched location at the foot of Mount Fuji, but expensive add-ons aren’t the aim here. The converted 1940s Japanese townhouse is split across two separate buildings, and mixes open plan living, an artist residency programme and rustic elements to create a warm, homely feel. If you’re beginning a journey with a trip to Mount Fuji, this is a great starting point for discovering Japan’s art scene.
8. Where Culture and Hospitality Intersect
Culture is a key part of any hotel stay, particularly in a country like Japan where culture and tradition form the basis for its entire ethos. In Fukui Prefecture, Hakujukan provides this in spades, offering every guest a ‘Zen concierge’ and the chance to partake in authentic experiences like trying Buddhist cuisine and monastery meditation at the nearby Eiheiji Temple. Every experience is tailored to connect you with the area’s culture and spirituality, making you feel like part of the community. Each morning, you’ll meditate with monks and burn incense, during the day guests can join sutra-copying classes or lectures, and evenings bring delicious shojin ryori, the vegetarian cuisine eaten in temples.
9. Service Over Everything
A good stay usually comes back to one key ingredient: good service. Even if you stay somewhere that doesn’t match what you quite expected, you’ll remember the warm or attentiveness of the service. For a true taste of service that is almost intuitive, The Shinmonzen in Kyoto is the place to stay. Aside from being one of Kyoto’s most unique design hotels, The Shinmonzen makes you feel remembered, thanks to private experiences and personalised touches, whether you want to book a trip to the spa or take a private rickshaw around town - they’ll know your name, what you like and always go the extra mile.
10. Why Design Matters More Than Ever
Well-thought-out architecture and unique interiors are the cornerstone of Japanese hotels and can also shape how we experience a place. Some of Japan’s innovative hotels draw the eye inwards, towards handcrafted furniture and in-house experiences, while others showcase the great outdoors through reflection and unusual structures. Hiroshima’s Simose Art Garden Villa, designed by Shigeru Ban, maximises natural light and frames views of the surrounding gardens, creating a sense of serenity for guests. These surroundings create and inside-outside feel: water, sky, stone and wood appear outside in the nearby basin, forests and mountain, but also inside in the bright, sleek villas. Reflections feature heavily, in the museum entrance hall and in their Emile Gallé's Garden, intended to amplify the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea.
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